Hotter than 30 C: When will B.C.'s early-May heat wave end?
British Columbia is in the midst of an early-season heat wave. with new, daily temperature records set in various locations. There is no relief on the immediate horizon as conditions are expected to remain warm and dry across the province.
A spell of summer-like heat will continue in British Columbia this week.
A significant ridge of high pressure over the West Coast will send temperatures soaring well above seasonal in the first week of May.
This weekend, Lytton, B.C., 30.1°C on Saturday, while Osoyoos, B.C., hit 31.2°C on Sunday.
RELATED: Lawn-watering ban starts May 1 in Metro Vancouver, lasts through summer
Rex block causes B.C. heat to rise
A ridge of high pressure is sitting over B.C. while a large area of low pressure spins over California.
The setup is a Rex block, which occurs when a centre of high pressure is stuck to the north of an area of low pressure. The two systems interlock like gears, forcing the pattern to persist for several days.
In this case, the ridge of high pressure is nosing in from the Pacific coast and strengthening over British Columbia, reinforced by a large area of low pressure spinning over California.
Folks across B.C. can expect a prolonged spell of unseasonably warm and dry conditions as long as this ridge of high pressure remains in charge over the region.
Heat wave lasts into the first week of May
The heat that arrived on Saturday was a good indicator of what's to come over the next several days.
RELATED: Prepare for an active wildfire season in British Columbia
Most regions of the province will experience temperatures running 5-10°C above seasonal for early May, with some locations approaching 15°C warmer than normal.
Generally, temperatures will range from 20-25+ degrees along the coast, up to 30 degrees inland near the coast, and reaching from the mid-20s to the low 30s throughout the southern Interior.
Here’s a look at the earliest 30°C on record in select communities across southern B.C.:
Abbotsford: May 1, 1998
Campbell River: May 12, 1993
Nanaimo: May 12, 1993
Vancouver: May 29, 1983
Comox: May 14, 2023
Folks throughout the region should remain on alert as the wildfire danger increases with the hot and dry pattern.
We’ll also watch the potential for drought conditions to spread in the days and weeks ahead as there is little, measurable rain forecast for much of the South Coast in the near future.
Temperatures at Vancouver airport will settle to near normal late week, but more warmth is expected next week. An above-normal temperature trend is forecast for the next two weeks.
Stay with The Weather Network for all the latest on conditions across British Columbia.